Electric-control system.



No. 803,233. PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905. H. D. JAMES ELECTRIC CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APB.3, 1905.

a IN ENTOR A'TTORNEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY D. JAMES, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASS'IGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed April 3, 1905. Serial No. 263.635.

To all whom, to may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. JAMns, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric-Control Systems, (Case No. 1,440,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems of electric control, and especiallyto such systems as are employed in connection with translating clevices which are operated by means of heavy currents and high voltages.

The object of my invention is to provide a system embodying a controlling device for varying the voltage applied to a translating device, which shall be so arranged as to prevent the rupture' of any current-carrying circuit at the contacts of said controlling device.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for manually operating acontroling device that shall require a relatively large motion, thereby introducing a time element for advancement from one position to the next adjacent position, and that shall actuate a circuit-breakingdevice to open the motor-supply circuit by a relatively inconsiderable motion in the opposite direction.

hen an alternating. current translating 3o device of large capacity and relatively high electromotive force is controlled by means of transformers provided with a plurality of taps, it is desirable to break all current-carrying circuits at some specially-protected point, such 3 5 as may be provided by the use of an oil-type circuit-breaker.

By means of my invention all changes in connections from the transformer to the controlling device are accomplished when no ourrentflows through the circuits that are in use. I

The circuit is completed finally through one of two similar paths to the motor by means of a circuit-breaker that is actuated from the controlling device,connections being arranged for the next step on the controller in the other path which carries no current, while current flows through the first path.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, polyphase alternating-current energy is supplied to a motor 1 from circuits 2 3 and 1 5 through autotransformers 6 and 7 and controller-drums 8 and 9, both of which may be turned by any suitable actuating means to any of a plurality of positions a, 7), 0, (Z, c, and f.

hen the controller occupies any one of the aforesaid positions a, b, 0, (l, e, and f, the circuit is completed from the line conductor 3 of phase X, through overload-coil 10 of a main-line circuit-breaker 11, a contact-finger 12 of the drum 8, ring-segments 13 and 1 1, and finger 15, to one end terminal 16 of the autotransformer 6, the other end terminal 17 of the transformer being connected to the other line conductor 2. l/Vhen the controller approaches position a, a circuit is first completed from tap 18 of the autotransformer 6, through linger 19, ring-segments 20 and 21, finger 22, a preventive resistance 23, contact members 24 of a circuit-breaker 25, and a conductor 26, to terminal 27 of the motor 1. The circuit-breaker 25 is actuated to close the circuit after the fingers 12, 15, 19, and 22 have come into engagement, respectively,with the ring-segments 13, 1 1, 20, and 21, so that the circuit is finally completed independently of the controller-contacts. After the circuit is completed and the controller moves positively into the position a the ring-segment 21 engagesa finger 22, which completes the circuit to the circuit-breaker 25, and thus shortcircuits the preventive resistance 23.

As the controller approaches position?) a tap 28 of the autotransformer 6 is first connected, through a finger 29, ring-segments 30 and 31, finger 32, preventive resistance 33, contact members 31 of a circuit-breaker 35, and the conductor 26, to the motor-terminal 27. As the controller moves positively into the position b circuit is first broken by the circuit-breaker 25, and the ring-segment 31 then comes into engagement with finger 37, which is connected to one of the contact members 34 of the circuit-breaker 35, and consequently short-circuits the resistance 33 and completes the connection directly to the conductor 26. As the controller is moved through the positions 0, (Z, and c successively, voltages are similarly applied to the motor from the several taps 38, 39, and 40, that are connected, respectively, to a plurality of fingers 41, 4:2, and 13, which engage in turn with ring-segments 14:, 15, and 16, the sequence of events being followed out in the same manner in each instance, so that when two different taps of the autotransformer 6 are at the same time connected to the motor-conductor 26 either the resistance 23 or the resistance 33 is included in the circuit to prevent the excessive flow of current due to short-circuiting the portion of the autotransformer between the two taps, which would otherwise occur. As the controller approaches the position f circuit is completed directly from line 3 through finger 12, ring-segments 13, 14, and 47, finger 32, preventive resistance 33, and conductor 26 to the motor 1, and then the circuitbreaker 25 is open and the resistance 33 is short-cireuited, as the position f is positively occupied by the controller. Energy of phase Y is similarly applied from the line conductors 4 and 5 to the motor 1, through a circuitbreaker 48, an autotransformer 7, a controller-drum 9, preventive resistance 49 and 50, contact members 51 and 52 of the circuitbreakers 25 and 35, and conductor 53, which correspond, respectively,to circuit-breaker 11, autotransformer 6, resistances 23 and 33, contact members 34 and 24, and conductor 26 of phase X.

The two controller-drums may be simultaneously actuated and the circuit-breakers 25 and 35 may be opened and closed at the proper instants in the sequence of connections between the controller positions by any suitable means such, for example, as I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will hereinafter describe.

It is desirable to employ operating mechanism which will insure the return of the drums to the off position in order to close the main circuit-breaker after it has been tripped from any cause, such as an overload. It is also desirable to so arrange the operating-handle as to introduce a time element between positions,thus reducing the probability of increasing the voltage applied to the motor at an excessive rate, and at the same time provision should be made for opening the main circuit-breaker by a slight backward movement of the operating-handle at any time. To-accomplish the desired results, the drums 8 and 9, which for convenience of illustration are shown as developed into a single plane, may be fixed with respect to each other and be both actuated by a pinion 54, which is driven by an operating-handle 55 and meshes with a rack 56, that is attached to the controller-drums. The pinion 54 is proportioned so that when turned through an arc of substantially one hundred and eighty degrees in one direction the drums 8 and 9 are moved from one position to the next adjacent position, and when turned through a small are in the opposite direction a pawl 58 is actuated by the rack 56 to engage a notch 59 in a connecting-link 60 and open the circuit-breakers 11 and 48. These circuit-breakers will remain open until the controller is moved to the off position, as shown in the accompanying drawing, when a projection 57 on the rack 56 engages a lever 61, which is connected to the circuit-breaker toggle 62 by a connecting link 63. The controller-drums may be pro vided with another rack 64, which engages a pinion 65, and thereby drives cams 66 and 67, which are on the same shaft with the pinion. The cams 66 and 67 respectively engage levers 68 and 69, which are connected to the circuit-breakers 25 and 35 and are arranged to open and close said breakers as the controller-drums move from one position to the next adjacent position.

While I have shown and described aspecilic combination of devices for effecting a desired result for convenience of illustration and description, [desire it to be understood that any other means for performing substantially the same functions may be employed within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention--- 1. The combination with a transformer, a translating device and a controller therefor, arranged to selecta sequence of taps from said transformer and supply different voltages therefrom to said translatingdevice, of means for preventing the rupture of any currentcarrying circuit by the contacts of said controller.

2. The combination with a transformer, a translating device and a circuit-controlling device for varying the voltage applied thereto from said transformer, of means for preventing the rupture of current-carrying circuits by the contacts of said controlling device that comprises two circuit-breakers which are actuated by said device to alternately deliver energy to said translating device through one of two different paths, said controlling device serving to change the connection from said transformer only in the circuit that is open at the time of said change.

3. The combination with a voltage-regulating device, a translating device and a controller therefor arranged to apply different voltages from said regulating device to said translating device, of means for preventing the rupture of any current-carrying circuit at the contacts of said controller which comprises two similar circuits and two circuitbreakers that are actuated by said controller to alternately select one of the said circuits as the controller occupies successive positions.

4. The combination with a source of Variable voltage, a translating device and a controller that operates to apply the proper voltage from said source to said translating device, of means for preventing the rupture of any currentcarrying circuit by the contacts of said controller, which comprises a plurality of circuitbreakers that are actuated by said controller to permit the current to flow to said translating device by a path which is determined by the position of said controller.

5. The combination with a source of variable voltage, a translating device, a controller that operates to apply a plurality of predetermined voltages to said translating device, of means for preventing the rupture of any currentcarrying circuit by the contacts of said controller that comprises two circuit-breakers which interlock with said controller and are actuated thereby to alternately change the path of current to said translating device as said controller occupies successive positions, proper connections for the variation of voltage being accomplished by said controller in each path when no current is flowing therethrough.

6. The combination with a source of variable voltage, a translating device and a controller that operates to apply a plurality of predetermined voltages to said translating device, of means for preventing the rupture of any current-carrying circuit by the contacts of said controller and for inserting a resistance as each change in voltage is effected.

7. The combination with a translating device and a variable-voltage source for supplying current thereto, of means for varying the electromotive force applied to said translating device, that maintains the continuity of its circuit; that includes a resistance in each temporary short circuit, and that completes and ruptures all current-carrying circuits at one or more predetermined points.

8. The combination with a translating del vice, a transformer for supplying current thereto, and a plurality of circu1t-breakers, of

means for varying the electroinotive force applied to said translating device that maintains the continuity of its circuit; that includes a resistance in the circuit of any shortcircuited portion of said transformer, and that completes and ruptures all current-carrying circuits by the actuation of said circuitbreakers.

9. In a controller, the combination with a circuit-breaker and a contactcarrying member, of an operating handle therefor that serves to advance said contact-carrying member from one position to the next adjacent position by a relatively large degree of movement in one direction and to trip said circuitbreaker by a relatively small degree of movement in the opposite direction.

10. In a controller, the combination with a contact carrying member and a circuitbrealzer, of a manually-actuated operatinghandle geared to said member and interlocked with said circuit-breaker, so that a relatively large degree of movement of said handle in one direction produces motion of said contactcarrying member from one position to the next and a relatively small degree of movemert of said handle in the other direction trips said circuit-breal1er.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subcribed my name this 22d day of March, 1905.

HENRY D. JAMES.

Witnesses:

O'r'ro S. SGHAIRER, BIRNEY HINEs. 

